North And South - Complete Craft

North And South
By Emma Bradstock
S
Darwin
Alawa
Dragonfly Fabrics
outh Australia is truly one of the country’s treasures. With a
rich indigenous and European history, diverse landscapes,
famous wine regions, trendy metropolitan lifestyles and thriving
art scenes, this state has it all.
The most famous wine regions, the Clare Valley and the Barossa
Valley, have a lot to offer, with their vineyards originally established
in the early to mid 1800s. The Clare Valley has some stunning heritage
architecture, such as the Georgian-style mansion Martindale Hall.
Red Banks Conservation Park is where you can discover the 50,000year-old Diprotodon (giant wombat) and marsupial lion fossils. The
Barossa Valley’s history of wine making began in 1839 and since
then more than 80 cellar doors have opened in the area. You’ll find
celebrity foodie Maggie Beer’s farm shop in Nuriootpa, where you
can enjoy a picnic-style lunch.
The Adelaide Hills offer spectacular towns and gardens while the
city of Adelaide has been named Australia’s most liveable city, with
great restaurants and shopping as well as fantastic museums and art
galleries, with the Art Gallery of South Australia home to one of the
largest collections of William Morris furnishings outside the UK.
Off the coast is Kangaroo Island, which was home to Australia’s
first free settlement before the city of Adelaide was established.
The island is now a popular attraction for its mix of history and
native wildlife. A visit to the lighthouses along the Shipwreck Trail
provides a fascinating glimpse into the island’s history.
Whether your visit to South Australia is to tour the wine regions,
marvel at the beautiful scenery or explore the cities and towns, you
will be so blown away by this magnificent state that you’ll want to
go back again and again.
What’s On
SOUTH
September 28 –October 1 Australian Machine Quilting
Festival, Adelaide Convention Centre, North Terrace,
Adelaide. www.amqfestival.com.au
November 3–4 Barossa Rose and Flower Show,
Chateau Barossa, 1 Hermann Thumm Drive, Lyndoch.
www.barossaroseshow.com.au
January 1–31, 2013 Santos Tour Down Under,
various locations, Adelaide and regional.
www.tourdownunder.com.au
NORTH
September 7–16 Alice Desert Festival, various venues,
Alice Springs. www.alicedesertfestival.com.au
December 1 Darwin Symphony Orchestra —
Messa di Gloria with Rosario La Spina. Playhouse,
Darwin Entertainment Centre, 93 Mitchell Street, Darwin.
www.darwinentertainment.com.au
N ORTHERN
T E R R I T O RY
Alice Springs
Country Bliss
Aboriginal Fabric Gallery
Ceduna
Craft de Eyre
Tumby Bay
Port Pirie
Country Hart Designs
Patches at the Bay
Port Lincoln
The Patchwork Pear
Adelaide
Lameroo
Crafty Crow
Gawler
Kornacraft Sewing Centre
Modbury
A Quilter's Odyssey
Victor Harbor
Whyte House Gallery
Robe
The Secret Drawer
Hindmarsh
Hettie's Patch
Adelaide
Magill
Quiltaholics
Brighton
Patchwork By Sea
Aldinga Beach
The Sewing Sanctuary
Follow the needle and thread, button by button, as we discover the
Northern Territory’s and South Australia’s best craft shops.
T
he Northern Territory is known for breathtaking natural
landscapes and the cultural and spiritual significance
these landscapes hold for the indigenous Australians.
Among some of the most famous and significant landmarks are
The Olgas, a cluster of 32 weathered rock domes; the Devils Marbles;
and of course, Uluru, which stands at 348m tall even though most
of the rock is actually below ground.
The landscapes are just as spectacular and include the Simpson
Desert, Katherine Gorge, Victoria River and the world-famous Kakadu
National Park with massive waterfalls, incredible sandstone galleries
and ancient Aboriginal rock art. It is also home to around one-third
of Australia’s bird population.
The town of Alice Springs and the Territory’s capital city, Darwin,
are ideal bases for exploring the nearby natural landscapes, and both
boast relaxed outdoor lifestyles as well as thriving art and cultural
scenes. Darwin also has many well-preserved historical World War
II sites that are certainly worth visiting.
There is so much to see and do in the Northern Territory — from
the famous and spectacular landscapes significant to the Aboriginal
people to the friendly towns and capital city, you simply can’t miss
out on experiencing it for yourself.
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ON THE ROAD
O N T H E R O A D — S O U T H A U S T R A L I A A N D T H E N O R T H E R N T E R R I T O RY
Dragonfly Fabrics
D
Alawa
ragonfly Fabrics opened in November 2006 to fill a void after
the relocation of Frangipani Fabrics to Tasmania. After the
closure of three other businesses and the relocation of another, Dragonfly
Fabrics is now the only independent patchwork, quilting, fabric and
embroidery supplier in Darwin and the whole of the Top End.
Due to its unique location and a large number of customers in remote
and rural areas, Dragonfly Fabrics takes pride in the attention it gives to
mailorder customers. With a new internet site, the store is now servicing
an even wider customer base, with fast turnaround and excellent
assistance on orders.
Stepping into the shop you will be wowed by the range and variety
of stock on offer. There’s an astounding range of novelties; colourful,
traditional, modern and floral Japanese fabrics; a splendid selection of
batiks; lots of extra-wide backings; and both commercial and hand-printed
indigenous fabrics. There’s also a variety of local and overseas patterns,
haberdashery and batting, and an ever-expanding range of embroidery
threads, patterns and fabrics.
There’s room for everyone at Dragonfly Fabrics’ classes and workshops,
and Sit ’n’ Sew days are particularly popular with travellers during the
dry season.
Address: Shops 2 and 3, 53 Alawa Crescent, Alawa NT 0810
Phone: (08) 8948 0691 Fax: (08) 8948 0694
Email: [email protected] Website: www.dragonfabric.com.au
L
Country Bliss
Alice Springs
ina Morelli has been running the charming Country
Bliss in the heart of Australia for more than nine
years. The shop is a wonderland for the eager stitcher, with
a wide range of crafty products to choose from.
Follow the luscious scent of candles and soaps to the store
and let the wonderful window display entice you inside.
Country Bliss stocks a stunning selection of Aboriginal
fabrics that have been designed by Aboriginal artists. The
fabrics are available in fabulous colours from earthy browns
to mesmerising blues and would add an extra-special touch
to any project.
Among the other fabric choices available, Country Bliss
stocks country, vintage and Australiana fabrics that include
patterns of grass motifs, fern trees, Australian fish, rock art
and koalas.
The charming shop further stocks a fine selection of
threads and notions and the friendly staff take care to
make sure that every customer’s needs are met. A wide range
of fantastic block of the month programs are run as well,
while the kits and stitcheries on offer make the perfect
travel project.
Address: Shop 3, 54 Todd Mall, Alice Springs NT 0870 Phone/fax: (08) 8953 6866 Email: [email protected]
Website: www.countrybliss.com.au
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Aboriginal Fabric Gallery
Alice Springs
estled in the heart of central Australia, Aboriginal
Fabric Gallery has been looking after the needs
of regional crafters since 2005. Dianne May first opened the
shop on encouragement from a friend whose shop Dianne
had originally been working in. “I loved the fabrics, so it soon
became a passion for me, too,” Dianne says.
As you step into Aboriginal Fabric Gallery, you are greeted
by friendly faces and an impressive display of beautiful, unique
fabrics. The shop stocks an excellent range of Australiana
flora and fauna prints and the selection of fantastic Aboriginal
art fabric is 100 per cent cotton and perfect for patchwork,
tablecloths, clothes and all manner of craft items. It’s no
surprise that many visitors claim the shop has the best range of
Aboriginal prints they’ve ever seen; there’s just so much to choose from!
Fellow staff member Liz King cuts fabric packs and will always go that extra length
to make sure your shopping experience is a pleasurable one. The “bored blokes’
corner”, a little haven of comfy chairs and magazines, makes sure everyone’s interests
are catered for.
Tourist buses stop just outside the shop, which encouraged Dianne to start the
shop website. “It’s now so exciting, as we send fabric all over the world and all over
Australia,” Dianne says.
Address: Shop 3, Capricornia Centre, Gregory Terrace, Alice Springs NT 0870
Phone/fax: (08) 8952 6163 Email: [email protected] Website: www.aboriginalfabrics.com.au
Craft de Eyre
S
Ceduna
ituated on the stunning Eyre Peninsula is the fresh and trendy Craft
de Eyre. Mother-and-daughter team Elaine Kerridge and Joanne
Genrich have owned the shop at its current premises for three years and
continue to run it with passion and enthusiasm for all things crafty.
Enticing you inside the store are the delicious smells of locally made
soaps and candles. Be amazed at the striking samples of quilts, bags,
stitcheries and table runners that adorn the walls — they are simply
bursting with inspiration for visitors, with many pre-packaged
kits available.
Hand in hand with their excellent service is a terrific range of products
and fabrics, especially the pre-packaged quilt kits, which are very popular.
They also sell Janome sewing machines to ensure all your sewing needs
are covered and Elaine has the ability to turn great quilts into masterpieces
with a long-arm quilting service. The ladies are more than happy to post
customers’ finished quilts throughout Australia.
Jo’s passions are hand sewing and embroidery, while Elaine is
passionate about machine sewing, designing and long-arm quilting, so
you’re sure to get the right advice for your project. If you’re in need of a bit
more help, they have a variety of classes on offer, including youth classes
held on Tuesdays.
Thankful is a six-part block of the month by Melissa
Grant available from Craft de Eyre. Finished size is 30 x
38in. Contact the store for more information.
Address: 43 Poynton Street, Ceduna SA 5690 Phone: (08) 8625 3560
Fax: (08) 8625 3430 Email: [email protected]
Website: www.cedunacraft.com.au
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The Patchwork Pear
Por t Lincoln
ince 2002, The Patchwork Pear has been a part of the
Port Lincoln landscape. Owner Elizabeth Williams
has always been passionate about sewing and for many years
she’s quilted, sewn and embroidered for her family — a
passion she’s extended to her business.
The store is guaranteed to delight, with a huge selection
of fabrics, threads, patterns and kits on offer. The constantly
changing quilt display will have you itching to stitch, and if
you’re in the market for a new sewing machine, there’s a great
Janome range in-store.
Elizabeth and her staff pride themselves on old-fashioned
service and will offer advice on pattern and fabric selection;
they’ll even help you choose a gift from their giftware range.
With a range of classes for beginners and advanced quilters offered
each term, the store is constantly a hive of activity. The Schoolies
classes continue to be popular and even if you’re just passing through
you’re catered for, with sit-and-sew sessions designed for travellers
held on Monday and Friday mornings.
Every year, Elizabeth designs two new mystery quilts in time for the
Adelaide and Melbourne Cups, which are later released as kits.
Address: Shop 2, 13 Mortlock Terrace, Port Lincoln SA 5606
Phone: (08) 8683 1566 Email: [email protected]
Website: www.patchworkpear.com.au
Patches at the Bay
P
Tumby Bay
atches at the Bay is different from most patchwork stores
and not just because it also stocks the largest range of
wool on the Eyre Peninsula. It’s run entirely by volunteers who
effectively saved the town from sewing extinction. Volunteer
managers Helen and Chris run the store with the assistance of
eight other ladies who work shifts during the week.
“Our story began when a local store was sold and the new
owners did not want to stock any sewing, wool, quilting and
haby,” relates Helen. “I suggested we start a new sewing store
run by volunteers … the shop was found and the rest is history!”
The store offers a wide range of stock, from quilting fabric
and notions, sewing haberdashery and general craft supplies to
handmade clothing and scenic prints from local photographers.
There’s a large selection of charm squares, layer cakes, jelly
rolls, homespun and more to inspire every quilter.
Patches at the Bay is also the largest wool supplier on the
Eyre Peninsula. “Ladies can order from wool books if we don’t
stock a particular wool, and we deliver and send supplies to them if needed,” says Helen. With the resurgence
of interest in knitting and crocheting, locals and visitors alike are delighted by the range of wool on offer.
The volunteers have created a friendly and cosy atmosphere in-store, with a Cuppa Corner for patient husbands, as well as a
range of classes for beginners to advanced. Thursdays are Sit & Sew days, with the only request being a small donation to cancer
research for the use of the facilities.
Address: Shop 3, 1 Lipson Road, Tumby Bay SA 5605 Phone: (08) 8688 2999 Email: [email protected]
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Country Hart Designs
A
Por t Pirie
fter years of designing and selling patterns,
Robyn decided it was time to expand her
business and, for the past two-and-a-half years,
Country Hart Designs has been a fantastic retail
addition to Port Pirie. In an exciting venture, in May
2012 the store relocated to new premises in the CBD.
The new store has tons of character, with a fresh
yet classic country feel. The front windows of the
store are perfect for displaying a fantastic range of
stock and you’ll find even more products inside,
such as Matilda’s Own batting, Rasant, Gütermann threads,
Madeira and Cottage Garden embroidery threads, quilting notions
and laser-cut buttons, displayed on classic country-style furniture.
Robyn also holds Stitch ’n’ Chat Wednesdays in store at
10.30am and Sit ’n’ Stitch Saturdays are from 10am to 1pm with
bookings no longer necessary, so everyone is welcome to drop in and
join the fun. Groups are also more than welcome to visit the store.
Coming in April 2013 is A Weekend in Creative Company Gathering —
contact Robyn for details.
Address: 13 Alexander Street, Port Pirie SA 5540
Phone: (08) 8632 3172 or 0417 826 418
Email: [email protected] Website: www.countryhart.com.au
Blog: www.countryhartdesigns.blogspot.com
Kornacraft Sewing Centre
N
estled between the Clare
Valley and Barossa Valley
is Kornacraft Sewing Centre in
Gawler, which has been owned and
operated for six years by Kim and
Chris Peake.
After moving into the current
shop at the end of 2011, this
inviting store feels fresh and new
with beautiful blue walls and a
sparkling crystal light above the alcove by the counter. The store is bursting
with fabric displays, sewing machines and accessories — everything for
your sewing needs! The large variety of quilting fabrics includes Japanese, batiks,
homespun, florals and more. The store sells Janome, Brother and Baby Lock sewing
machines and also offers services and repairs.
Kornacraft Sewing Centre conducts classes in patchwork and quilting, decorative
painting and monthly machine-embroidery classes. And, for those who have just
purchased a new sewing machine here, the store also runs basic sewing-machine
lessons to help you get better acquainted with your new machine.
Address: 108 Murray Street, Gawler SA 5118
Phone: (08) 8522 3246 Fax: (08) 8522 1264
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.kornacraft.com.au
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Gawler
O N T H E R O A D — S O U T H A U S T R A L I A A N D T H E N O R T H E R N T E R R I T O RY
A Quilter’s Odyssey
A
Modbur y
Quilter’s Odyssey, owned and run by Kate Wright,
has only been open since January 2011. Like many
quilters, Kate wanted to open her own shop and the time was
finally right. Although the store is still young, the customer
base is expanding quickly as the store is situated in an area
that had no longer catered to quilters — until now.
The store is full of well-organised and colourful fabrics and
the collection of American 1800 reproduction fabrics, as well
as black-and-whites, is expanding. Kate hopes to eventually
supply all 129 colours in the ShadowPlay range.
A Quilter’s Odyssey offers Sit and Sew classes five
mornings and one afternoon a week where everyone works
on their choice of project. Kate teaches hand piecing, hand
appliqué and English paper piecing, as well as classes for
beginners teaching the all-important use of rotary cutters and
rulers. All-day workshops are run every six to eight weeks,
featuring one or more techniques, so you can start your own
Quilter’s Odyssey!
Address: Shop 17, Modbury Triangle Shopping Centre,
954 North East Road, Modbury SA 5092 Phone: (08) 8265 2175
Fax: (08) 8395 4681 Email: [email protected]
Website: www.aquiltersodyssey.com.au
Hindmarsh
Hettie’s Patch
N
From Dali Zakka are these
owl and fish purse kits, which
include everything you need to
make the purse. They can be
made by hand, so are perfect
portable projects. The full range
of products is available from the
Hettie’s Patch website,
www.hettiespatch.com.au
ow in its seventh year of operation, Hettie’s Patch is always up to
date with the latest crafty releases and Lorraine is constantly buying
giftware and small pieces of furniture to complement the fabric ranges,
keeping the displays fresh and new.
The store has a huge range of fabrics; some of the staff’s personal favourites
currently in stock are the newly released Tilda fabrics, Amy Butler and Kaffe
Fassett. However, there are so many more fabrics, 4500 bolts in fact, to cater
for all your sewing requirements, including orientals, reproductions, 1930s,
spots, stripes, plains from A Day in the Country and so much more. Also,
keeping up with the current trend of hand piecing and quilting, there are
plenty of paper-piecing templates and papers in-store.
Staff are especially friendly; because each member has their own
speciality, customers often comment on how helpful they are in
calculating fabric quantities and choosing the right colours.
Hettie’s Patch also hosts many bus trips that arrive throughout the
year, with an offer of morning or afternoon tea and even a discount
on purchases. The store regularly invites interstate teachers to visit,
including Kellie Wulfsohn from Don’t Look Now, Nicole Mallalieu from
You Sew Girl! and Kathy Doughty from Material Obsession. Regular local
teachers hold classes six days a week.
Address: 294 Port Road, Hindmarsh SA 5007 Phone: (08) 8346 0548
Fax: (08) 8346 0568 Email: [email protected]
Website: www.hettiespatch.com.au Blog: www.hettiespatch.typepad.com
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Quiltaholics
Magill
hen Cheryl DiMonte first opened Quiltaholics in mid 2002,
she would never have believed it was possible to expand the
shop to three times its original size and win two industry-based Business
of the Year awards in South Australia (2008 and 2009).
Once you visit the store, it’s very little surprise as to why Quiltaholics
is so successful. This is a quilt shop that goes all the way in stock and
service. When you walk into the store, you’re greeted by a tempting
selection of beautiful coloured threads, a substantial haberdashery wall,
kits, jelly rolls, panels on display and more — and you haven’t even made
it to the fabric yet! You will find a beautiful selection of fabrics, which
includes the Jinny Beyer palette and a huge range of Thimbleberries,
flannels and cat and dog fabrics. There will also be two gorgeous new kitty
quilts and some stunning new Asian projects in-store soon.
However, the stock is just one aspect of Quiltaholics’ success. When
customers visit, they are greeted by one of the friendly staff members —
Cheryl, who has been quilting since 1986; her daughter AnnaLisa, who,
although only 21 years of age, is an accomplished quilter in her own
right; Lyn, a member of the Magill Quilters (a local quilt group renowned
for its magnificent morning tea for cancer research every May); or Tara, an
award-winning quilter who has been published in Australian magazines.
The Sit ’n’ Sew classes are very popular and many firm friendships have
been forged within these groups. So why not call in to see what makes
Quiltaholics the dual award-winning patchwork shop in South Australia?
You can also find them on Facebook!
Patchwork By Sea
Back Home Again BOM is a stunning quilt featuring
reproduction fabrics by Kaye England. 13 months are $30
per month, including p&h within Australia. Choice of blue
or brown for the outer border. Finished size: 81 x 85in.
Limited stocks available.
Address: 463B The Parade, Magill SA 5072
Phone: (08) 8332 6110 Email: [email protected]
Brighton
J
ennifer and her husband Terry had always
dreamed of owning their own business, so
“when the opportunity arose and Patchwork By
Sea was up for sale, we did all that we could to
make our dream come true,” says Jennifer, who
purchased the business in 2007.
This store is well known for its stunning
wall of fabrics that will delight any
fabricaholic. The store specialises in Japanese
fabrics and stocks one of the biggest ranges of
Kaffe Fassett fabrics in Australia. It also has
great patterns and kits, including BOMs that
are exclusive to the store.
Regular classes are held for beginners and
more experienced quilters in machine quilting
and a variety of techniques that change from term to term. All the awardwinning teachers are members of the SA Quilters’ Guild. If you’re a Brighton
local, think about attending the weekly sit-and-sew classes that are full of
laughter and friendship.
Address: 49 Jetty Road, Brighton SA 5048
Phone: (08) 8377 3942 Fax: (08) 8377 3943
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.patchworkbysea.com.au
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The Sewing Sanctuary
Aldinga Beach
aren and Jeff have expanded The Sewing Sanctuary
once again to offer you a great cafe as well as more
quality fabrics, threads and classes.
When you call in, you will be greeted by Karen, Jeff or Kay,
who are all extremely helpful when it comes to fabric choice
and advice about products or the local area if required. Jeff is
also the shop’s head barista, serving excellent cappuccinos,
lattes and fresh, home-baked cakes and goodies.
The store has beautiful displays of quilts and embroideries
that are sure to inspire you to start a new project. The day and
evening stitch-and-chat groups are a great way to spend your
time as you enjoy sewing in the company of friendly people
for just $5 per session.
The Sewing Sanctuary has a great program called Strip for
Charity that you can participate in on Wednesday mornings.
“We make bright, happy quilts from our scraps, strips and
orphan blocks to give to children who need to spend time
in foster care,” says Karen. “It provides the children with
something they can wrap themselves with for comfort.”
Address: 101 Rowley Road, Aldinga Beach SA 5173
Phone/fax: (08) 8556 5338
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.sewingsanctuary.com.au
Whyte House Gallery
S
Victor Harbor
ituated in the stunning coastal resort of Victor Harbor, just a one-hour
drive south of Adelaide, is Whyte House Gallery. Originally established
in 1988 in an 1880s bluestone cottage, the gallery was named after the original
owner and has been in the hands of Deb and Stuart Wight since 1989.
Deb is an accredited professional potter but has been interested in all crafts
since her childhood, including textiles. It is this passion for textiles and all
things crafty that ensures Deb can give customers the right advice they need for
their projects.
This welcoming store is jam-packed with all the essentials for your craft
needs, with more than 200 batik fabrics for quilting, DMC threads, buttons,
cross-stitch kits, supplies for scrapbooking and painting and so much more.
You will certainly find all your craft needs very well met in this Aladdin’s cave.
Deb also loves books, so you are sure to find a
book on your craft of choice with more than 300
titles in-store to choose from. If you still can’t find the right
book, they are more than happy to order it in for you.
Whyte House Gallery is open seven days a week and
holds a variety of classes during the school terms. Various
workshops are also on offer throughout the year. With
its fantastic selection of stock, great advice and friendly
service, Whyte House Gallery is a must-visit store.
Address: 2 Stuart Street, Victor Harbor SA 5211 Phone: (08) 8552 1885
Email: [email protected] Website: www.whytehousegallery.com.au
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Crafty Crow
Lameroo
ince the opening of Crafty Crow in 2004, owner Donna Cummins has been
just as passionate about her store as she was the day the doors opened.
Donna runs her shop with friendly and efficient service — she is so dedicated to her
customers’ needs that, when possible, she is willing to source any items that might
not be in-store.
The store is compact and bursting with all sorts of crafty goodies — from fabric to
haberdashery, ribbons, buttons, notions, quilting and cross-stitch kits, accessories
for sewing and quilting, wool, lace, DMC threads, kits and so much more. They are
an agent for Janome sewing machines and Horn sewing cabinets, with an in-store
overlocker and sewing-machine repair service available each month. If you have
crafty requirements, you’re almost certain to find what you need at Crafty Crow.
The store’s selection of quilting fabrics has been sourced from many different
places, so Donna is able to offer customers a fantastic range of fabrics on bolt and
pre-cuts, such as charm packs, jelly rolls, off-cuts, panels and even a range of precuts she has put together herself. There’s also an exclusive range of kits and patterns
for table runners, wallhangings, quilts, bags and cushions designed by Tricia Owen,
who just happens to be Donna’s sister.
Donna enjoys travelling to quilters’ groups and quilt fairs, selling her great range
and having a chat. She supports local shows every year and has had a blast at a
couple of quilters’ retreats, too. Bus groups are more than welcome to pop into the
store for a visit, a hot cup of tea or coffee and lots of fun, of course.
The Swimming in Batik quilt features cute
turtles swimming in a sea of gorgeous batik
fabrics. Finished size 38!/2 x 48in. The kit
includes all fabric for the quilt top and
binding, plus DMC threads for the appliqué.
Price including p&h is $67.95.
Address: 54 Railway Terrace North (in the Traders Arcade), Lameroo SA 5302 Phone: (08) 8576 3999
Fax: (08) 8576 3799 Email: [email protected] Website: www.craftycrow.com.au
The Secret Drawer
F
Robe
or Sandra, proprietor of The Secret Drawer for the past seven years, owning a craft
store was a must. “I have been sewing since I was seven years old and always had
a passion for fabric, so patchwork was a natural progression,” Sandra explains. When she
was a newlywed, she worked for an outstanding seamstress, which gave her an excellent
foundation — and fuelled the addiction that led her to turn her front yard into a quilt shop.
“When a customer first steps into my shop — which is a purpose-built room where my
front lawn once was — they are greeted by 45 quilts,” Sandra says. The classroom, which
used to be her lounge room, is always occupied, even if a class isn’t officially running, and
the Gammill quilting machine is on display and in action.
Sandra’s passion is reproduction fabrics, particularly 1930s and American Civil War
fabrics. But in a case of old meets new, she tends to specialise in quick-pieced quilts that
can be completed in a week or two. When you walk into the shop, you’ll find a sample of all the
quilts she sells as kits so you know exactly what you’re making. If you’d rather choose your own
fabrics, Sandra is happy to cut a kit for you.
As an extra service, if a customer buys a kit, Sandra is happy for them to come in and make the
quilt under her supervision for no charge. “I have a number of people who have never made a quilt
before and complete a quilt while they’re on holiday here.”
The Secret Drawer also holds sewing days all day Wednesday and on weekend afternoons. They
also love to help out the community with quilt donations to different groups, including donating
45 quilts to the Victorian bushfire appeal. The annual Pink Breakfast held with Quilters by the Sea
has raised almost $10,000 over the past few years.
Address: 39 Victoria Street, Robe SA 5276 Phone: (08) 8768 2213
Email: [email protected]
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